Sunday, February 26, 2012

Mom's Birthday Lunch

I don't put much celebration into my birthday. This year is not going like I thought it would anyway. God is sending all kinds of surprises. These two precious souls growing inside of me are making me feel so old. It took me days to recoup from all the walking for Mardi Gras. The swelling went down in my feet after spending the rest of the week trying to teach with my feet up. Not easy to do. The little ones are enjoying the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. So we were able to read and rest at the same time.

My birthday was on Friday. We went to our friends house to do stations of the Cross and to have dinner. It was nice being with all these friends again. We brought two cookie cakes for after dinner and another dad also had a birthday. We had a great time with friends. Plans were made for us to meet Pooker and Linguini at the Olive Garden for my birthday lunch. It is always so nice to have the entire family together.

I love all my babies and it was a treat to meet a lady and her two month old twin baby girls. She admitted that she was very tired as her twins took her to five children with the oldest being just 4 years old. Her mom took her to lunch with the red headed girl twins to get her out of the house. It helped me to see those adorable babies. Maybe we will get there someday!!!

We all had a blast at lunch and enjoyed the brief time we were all together. Thanks to all for the wonderful birthday wishes. God bless this next year in my life - no matter what it holds.

What will I see here?

Take a peek into our life as a big family in Houston, TX. Welcome to the electronic journal for the Texas T family. This blog was created to share some moments of our life with you. Often having 11 children (including twins), homeschooling, and being incredibly active in our Catholic faith we are asked “How do you do it?” We invite you to look around, sign up as a follower, and peek into the answer to that question. Remember we are not a perfect family; but I won't post the bad stuff.

Words from Blessed Mother Teresa

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pray for us!

"Heavenly Father, Give me the courage to strive for the highest goals, to flee every temptation to be mediocre. Enable me to aspire to greatness, as Pier Giorgio did, and to open my heart with joy to Your call to holiness. Free me from the fear of failure. I want to be, Lord, firmly and forever united to You. Grant me the graces I ask You through Pier Giorgio's intercession, by the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

Benedict XVI

"In today's social context, families with many children are a witness of faith, of courage and of optimism, for without children there is no future,"

St. Gertrude the Great

Free Souls in Purgatory

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.(Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great, that the following prayer would release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners which would alleviate the indebtedness accrued to them during their lives.)

St. Nicholas Pray for Us

The great Saint Nichaola was a real man that suffered persecution and imprisonment by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Later in the year 325AD this Bishop of Myra participated in the Council of Nicaea, meaning he helped with the Nicene Creed. (So "Santa" helped write the creed that we say each week at Mass to this day over 1600 years later!)

The Nicene Creed

We believe (I believe) in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages. (God of God) light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary and was made man; was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son), who together with the Father and the Son is to be adored and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. And one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess (I confess) one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for (I look for) the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

St. John Vianney, Curé of Ars

“do not be alarmed at your burden; Our Lord carries it with you. The good God does well all that He does: When He gives many children to a young mother it is that He deems her worthy to rear them. It is a mark of confidence on His part.”

St. Jude Novena

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly - (make your request here)- and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church you are also our Mother of Perpetual Help. With hearts full of love for you we consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart so that we may be your devoted children. Obtain for us true sorrow for our sins and fidelity to the promises of our Baptism. We consecrate our minds and hearts to you that we always do the Will of our heavenly Father. We consecrate our lives to you that we may love God better and live not for ourselves but for Christ, your Son and that we may see Him and serve Him in others. By this humble act of consecration dear Mother of Perpetual Help we pledge to model our lives on you, the perfect Christian. So that, consecrated to you in life and in death we may belong to your Divine Son for all eternity. Amen

St. Anthony of Padua

Holy Saint Anthony, gentle and powerful in your help, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were always ready to request for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the Saint of miracles. Gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart is ever full of human sympathy, take my petition to the Infant Savior for whom you have such a great love, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.